pdw Weapons of Modern Warfare - MP7

In this episode, we're taking a look at the MP7.

The MP7, or 'Maschinenpistole Sieben' is a weapon that makes its debut appearance in Modern Warfare 3.

It's a German weapon, manufactured by Heckler und Koch - and while designated as an SMG in-game, can be better described in real-life as a 'Personal Defence Weapon', or PDW.

Personal Defence Weapons have largely displaced the submachine gun and machine pistol in their roles with rear echelon troops - with their ability to better penetrate body armour, they retain effectiveness where standard pistol calibres might prove ineffective.

They have has found a place in the hands of special forces units, as well - replacing weapons such as the M4 carbine on missions that require manoeuvrable close-range power.

The MP7 can trace its design roots to the H&K G36 - as both weapons share the same gas-operated action.

The short-stroke piston replaced H&K's trademark roller-delayed blowback system, as employed in the G3 rifle, and MP5 submachine gun.

H&K's first attempt at a Personal Defence Weapon was a modification of the MP5 - in 1991 the MP5K-PDW variant was introduced, in an attempt to fulfil a NATO requirements for such a weapon.

Lacking the ability to pierce body armour, however, the MP5K-PDW saw limited success.

The Belgian FN P90, introduced in the same year as the MP5K-PDW, performed slightly better.

Similar to the MP7, it uses a higher-velocity, smaller calibre cartridge for effectiveness against armoured targets - and an unusual top-loading magazine configuration.

Other Personal Defence Weapons include the Russian PP-2000: chambered for 9mm Parabellum rounds but taking advantage of specially-designed ammunition;

The Knight's Armament Company PDW - designed to be familiar to those trained on the M4 platform;

and the Magpul PDR: a futuristic compact bullpup that fires NATO 5.56 ammo and takes standard mags.

These weapons, including the MP7, all share similar characteristics: their compact size, lightweight manoeuvrability and high-velocity ammunition make them ideal close-quarter weapons.

The MP7 entered production in 2001, introduced alongside its proprietary cartridge: the HK 4.6x30mm.

The bullet contains a steel core to aid with penetration, and with a muzzle velocity of over 700 metres per second - double the speed of a 9mm round - it's not hard to see why this custom cartridge performs so well against armour.

In addition to the MP7, the 4.6mm round was planned to be used in the now-cancelled HK UCP: A sidearm in the same vein as FN's Five-seveN pistol, which uses the same cartridge as the P90.

Magazines for the MP7 are of a standard box type, contained within the pistol grip. They're available in both 20 and 40 round capacities.

Rate of fire is quite high, at 950 rounds per minute - and paired with the lower recoil of the smaller cartridge, automatic fire can be quite effective.

The MP7 weighs in at a mere 1.5 kilograms when unloaded, and measures a diminutive 340 millimetres with the stock folded.

Unfolded, the weapon extends to 540 millimetres - a little over half a metre - and the barrel itself is 180mm long.

Since its introduction, the MP7 has been adopted by many different agencies: including the Austria's EKO Cobra, the German Army and GSG-9 units, UK Police forces, and the United State's SEAL Team Six: with whom the weapon was purportedly used during the raid of Osama Bin Laden's compound in 2011.

The MP7 in MW3 has earned a reputation as a terrifyingly effective weapon, with its low recoil granting very effective performance.

Just like its real-life counterpart, it is lightweight with rapid handling characteristics: and can dominate close-range engagements.

It might be designed for Personal Defense - but the MP7 is equally comfortable on offense.

pdw Weapons of Modern Warfare - MP7
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